Traveling game board and system

ABSTRACT

A flexible game board, and related gaming system, for easier travel. The flexible game board comprises a flexible material imprinted with a gaming pattern, and it is foldable from a playing position to one or more folded storage positions or rollable from the playing position to a rolled storage position. The gaming system may comprise the flexible game board, all components used to play the game, and a storage pouch. The gaming system may have a total weight of less than half the standard board game while maintaining the full-sized gaming experience of the standard board game.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/345,244, filed May 24, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous game boards and game systems that are more conducive to traveling and other outdoor experiences.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Playing board games of all kinds is a hobby for many campers, hikers, boaters, and other travelers. Often times, these board games require a heavy, relatively large, and cumbersome box to store the board game and its related components. Sometimes the board games involve a large wooden playing board, such as Chinese checkers or cribbage. These games can be cumbersome to store or to bring during travel when space is limited, such as on a boat, in a tent, in a camper, or in a recreational vehicle trailer, in a suitcase, in a backpack, or in a hiking pack. The boards also are not typically resistant to spills, water, rain, snow, and other elements or hazards.

Some traveling games on the market are a miniaturized version of the full-sized game board, which may impact the desirability of play based on, for instance, the dexterity of the players, playing card size, and a shortened scope of play.

It would be desirable to have a full-sized game board that is less cumbersome for travel or other outdoor activities, that fits into various sized compartments, and suitable to withstand the elements that many travelers encounter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments.

The travel game board comprises a first planar surface imprinted with a gaming pattern, wherein the first planar surface is foldable from a playing position to a folded storage position and rollable from the playing position to a rolled storage position.

In some embodiments, the first planar surface is washable. In some embodiments, the first planar surface is water resistant. In some embodiments, the first planar surface has a coating. In some embodiments, the first planar surface comprises a fabric.

In some embodiments, the gaming pattern comprises ink. In some embodiments, the gaming pattern comprises at least one playing element configured to receive a standard playing card.

The game board may further comprise a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface; and a thickness between the first planar surface. The second planar surface is imprinted with a second gaming pattern different than the gaming pattern of the first planar surface.

In some embodiments, a travel gaming system comprises a flexible travel game board comprising a first planar surface imprinted with a gaming pattern, wherein the first planar surface is foldable from a playing position to a first folded storage position; at least one playing component, said playing component comprising a deck of playing cards, a die, a cube, a marble, and a play markers; and a storage pouch. In such travel gaming system, the flexible travel game board, the playing components, and the storage pouch have a total package weight of less than ten ounces. In some embodiments, the total package weight is less than eight ounces. In still other embodiments, the total package weight is less than six ounces. The flexible travel game board of the travel gaming system may be washable. In some embodiments, the travel game board may be water resistant or water repellant. In some embodiments, the flexible travel game board has a first planar surface foldable from the playing position to a second folded storage position different from the first storage position. The flexible travel game board may also rollable from the playing position to a rolled position.

In at least one embodiment, the gaming pattern of the flexible travel game board comprises at least one playing element configured to receive a standard playing card.

The flexible travel game board may have a first length and a first width in the playing position, and the flexible travel game board may have a playing area defined by the first length and the first width. The storage pouch may also have a length and a width, and a storage area defined by the length and the width, wherein the storage area is between at least 50% and 95% less than the playing area of the flexible travel game board.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the disclosure will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which:

FIG. 1A is a top view of a flexible game board according to at least one embodiment of the present invention of the disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a side view of the flexible game board of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A-2D are various folded storage embodiments of the flexible game board of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a rolled storage embodiment of the flexible game board of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a gaming system with the flexible game board according to at least one embodiment of the present invention of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes novel and advantageous gaming boards and game systems that permit easier travel, storage, and transport than a traditional boxed game system with a cumbersome rigid gaming board.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments. However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the discussion.

FIGS. 1A-1B show a flexible game board 102 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The flexible game board 102 is shown in FIGS. 1A-1B in the playing position, where the flexible game board is generally flat and not folded or rolled. The flexible game board 102 has a top surface 104, a bottom surface 106, a first side 108, a second side 110, a first end 112, and a second end 114. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, the flexible game board 102 has a rectangular shape but the game board 102 may have a circular shape, a square shape, or any other suitable configuration. The flexible game board 102 has a thickness between the top surface 104 and the bottom surface 106. The flexible game board 102 has a gaming pattern 116 on either the top surface 104 or the bottom surface 106. In some embodiments, the flexible game board 102 has a gaming pattern 116 on each of the top surface 104 and the bottom surface, wherein the gaming pattern 116 on the top surface 104 and the gaming pattern 116 on the bottom surface 106 are different and suitable for playing different and distinct games. In some embodiments, the gaming pattern 116 may comprise separate playing elements. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the gaming pattern 116 may comprise multiple playing elements 117—here, nine rectangles—imprinted onto the surface of the game board. The top surface 104 may be exposed between playing elements 117. In some embodiments, the gaming pattern 116 comprises ink imprinted onto the surface of the game board, but in other embodiments, the gaming pattern may be sewn into the flexible game board 102 or may comprise materials adhered to the surface 104, 106 of the flexible game board 102. As shown in FIG. 1A, the gaming pattern 116 comprises at least one playing element 117 that is a rectangle sized to receive a standard playing card.

The flexible game board 102 comprises a flexible material that can be folded, rolled, or both into any storage configuration. The flexible material may comprise fabrics, other woven materials, polymers, rubber materials, elastomeric materials, plastics, recycled materials, leather, paper or other combinations of the above. The flexible material may, in some embodiments, be washable. In at least one embodiment, the flexible material may have a coating. In some embodiments, the coating may be on the top surface 104 or on the bottom surface 106 or both. In some embodiments, the coating may be a hydrophobic coating. In some embodiments, the coating may be water resistant or water repellant. In some embodiments, the flexible game board 102 may have a laminated layer over all or a portion of the top surface 104. In some embodiments, the coating may cover all or only a portion of the top surface 104. In at least one embodiment, the bottom surface 106 may have a rubber layer, a felt layer, or a layer of another material that prevents the flexible game board 102 from moving on a table or other surface. The rubber layer, felt layer, or layer of another material may cover the entire bottom surface 106 or only portions of it.

In some embodiments, the flexible game board 102 may have one or more weights positioned on the top surface 104. In some embodiments, the weights may be positioned between the top surface 104 and 106. In some embodiments, the weights may be removable from the flexible game board 102. The weights may, in some embodiments, comprise rocks, stones, marbles, or coins. In some embodiments, the weights may comprise items easily found around a campsite or other location. The weights help to stabilize the flexible game board 102 and keep the board from blowing or moving in windy or rough conditions.

The flexible game board 102 is constructed such that it can be folded into a folded storage position. FIGS. 2A-2D show the flexible game board 102 in various folded storage positions. In some embodiments, when folded, one or more entire playing elements 117 are shown, as shown in FIG. 2C. In some embodiments, when folded, only a portion of one playing elements 117 are shown, as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. In some embodiments, when folded into the folded storage position, multiple playing elements 117 are shown, as shown in FIG. 2D. Importantly, because of its construction, the flexible game board 102 can be folded into any of the folded storage positions shown in FIGS. 2A-2D or into any other folded storage position depending on permissible storage space in a storage unit, trunk, cabinet, bag, or other luggage item. In some embodiments the folded storage position may comprise a pleated configuration.

FIG. 3 shows the flexible game board 102 rolled into a rolled storage position. The flexible game board 102 can be folded or rolled into any folded position or the rolled storage position depending on the permissible storage space. The flexible game board 102 may be secured in the rolled storage position by a releasable closure, including but not limited to a tie, a hook and loop closure, a snap closure, a zipper, or other similar releasable closure.

In any of FIGS. 2A-2D and FIG. 3 , the flexible game board 102 in one of the folded storage position or the rolled storage position, or both, has a storage surface area between about 50% and 95% of the stored surface area of the traditional game board for the game.

FIG. 4 shows a gaming system 400 comprising flexible game board 402, playing components 404, and a storage pouch 406. The flexible game board 402 has one or more of the features described above and, in FIG. 4 , is shown folded into a folded storage configuration. The playing components 404 may comprise one or more of the following: at least one die 410, at least one marker 412, playing cards 414, and scorecards 416. The at least one die 410 may be of any configuration suitable for playing the game imprinted on the flexible game board 402. The at least one die 410 may be a 5-sided die, a 6-sided die, a 7-sided die, an 8-sided die, a 9-sided die, a 10-sided die, or have any number of sides. The at least one marker 412 may comprise, for example, chips, marbles, rocks, plastic cubes, plastic circles, plastic ovals, pawns, pins, magnets, wooden markers, or any playing piece necessary to play the game imprinted on the flexible game board 402. The at least one marker may have various shapes, colors, materials, and other configurations depending upon the game imprinted on the flexible game board 402. The playing cards 414 may be one or more standard deck of cards or a set of cards designed for the game imprinted on the flexible game board. The score cards may be a blank stack of paper or may be cards printed with a design particular to the game imprinted on the flexible game board.

The storage pouch 406 may have a first end 420, a second end 422, a first side 424, a second side 426, and a closure device 428. In some embodiments, the first end 420 may be an open end and the second end may be a permanently closed end 422 defined by a seam. In some embodiments, the first side 424 and the second side 426 may each be defined by a seam. At the open end 420, the storage pouch 406 may have a closure device 428. The closure device 428 may comprise a zipper, one or more hook and loop fasteners, a snap closure, or other closure device that releasably seals the first end 424. In some embodiments, the storage pouch 406 may comprise fabric, plastic, other polymers, and combinations thereof. In at least one embodiment, the storage pouch 406 is water resistant. In at least one embodiment, the storage pouch 406 is water repellant.

In at least one embodiment, the storage pouch 406 has a length, which is defined between the first end 420 and the second end 422, and a width, which is defined between the first side 424 and the second side 426. The storage pouch 406 has a storage area defined by the length and the width. In some embodiments, the storage area is between at least 50% and 95% less than the playing area of the flexible travel game board 402 where the playing area is defined, where the flexible travel game board 402 is a rectangle or square, by the length of the flexible travel game board 402 in the playing position between its first end and its second end and the width of the flexible travel game board 402 in the playing position between its first side and its second side. In at least one embodiment, the storage area is between about 50% and 95% less than the storage area of the box or other storage of a traditional gaming system for the same game. In some embodiments, the storage area is between about 75% and 90% less than the storage area of the box or other storage of a traditional gaming system for the same game.

In at least one embodiment, the gaming system 400 weighs between about 50% and 90% less than a traditional gaming system for the same game. In some embodiments, the gaming system 400 weighs between about 60% and 80% less than a traditional gaming system for the same game. In at least one embodiment, the gaming system 400 has a surface area.

As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” or “generally” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have generally the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” or “generally” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an element, combination, embodiment, or composition that is “substantially free of” or “generally free of” an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is generally no measurable effect thereof.

As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the description. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Still further, the figures depict preferred embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the discussion herein that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein.

While particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein. Various modifications, changes and variations, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims.

While the systems and methods described herein have been described in reference to some exemplary embodiments, these embodiments are not limiting and are not necessarily exclusive of each other, and it is contemplated that particular features of various embodiments may be omitted or combined for use with features of other embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A travel game board comprising: a first planar surface imprinted with a gaming pattern, wherein the first planar surface is foldable from a playing position to a folded storage position and rollable from the playing position to a rolled storage position.
 2. The game board of claim 1, wherein the first planar surface is washable.
 3. The game board of claim 1, wherein the first planar surface is water resistant.
 4. The game board of claim 1, wherein the first planar surface has a coating.
 5. The game board of claim 1, wherein the first planar surface comprises a fabric.
 6. The game board of claim 1, wherein the gaming pattern comprises ink.
 7. The game board of claim 1, wherein the gaming pattern comprises at least one playing element configured to receive a standard playing card.
 8. The game board of claim 1, further comprising: a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface; and a thickness between the first planar surface.
 9. The game board of claim 8, wherein the second planar surface is imprinted with a second gaming pattern different than the gaming pattern of the first planar surface.
 10. A travel gaming system comprising: a flexible travel game board comprising a first planar surface imprinted with a gaming pattern, wherein the first planar surface is foldable from a playing position to a first folded storage position; at least one playing component, said playing component comprising a deck of playing cards, a die, a cube, a marble, and a play markers; a storage pouch; wherein the travel game board, the playing components, and the storage pouch have a total package weight of less than ten ounces.
 11. The travel gaming system of claim 10, wherein the total package weight is less than eight ounces.
 12. The travel gaming system of claim 11, wherein the total package weight is less than six ounces.
 13. The travel gaming system of claim 10, wherein the flexible travel game board is washable.
 14. The travel gaming system of claim 10, wherein the flexible travel game board is water resistant.
 15. The travel gaming system of claim 10, wherein the flexible travel game board is water repellant.
 16. The travel gaming system, of claim 10, wherein the flexible travel game board has a first planar surface foldable from the playing position to a second folded storage position different from the first storage position.
 17. The travel gaming system of claim 10, wherein the flexible travel game board is rollable from the playing position to a rolled position.
 18. The travel gaming system of claim 10, wherein the gaming pattern comprises at least one playing element configured to receive a standard playing card.
 19. The travel gaming system of claim 10, wherein the flexible travel game board has a first length and a first width in the playing position, and the flexible travel game board has a playing area defined by the first length and the first width.
 20. The travel gaming system of claim 19, wherein the storage pouch has a length and a width, the storage pouch having a storage area defined by the length and the width, wherein the storage area is between at least 50% and 95% less than the playing area of the flexible travel game board. 